Caustic Ingestions and Foreign Body Aspirations: An Overlooked Form of Child Abuse

Abstract

Caustic ingestions and foreign body aspirations are common occurrences in the pediatric population. The high association between caustic ingestions and foreign body aspirations and family stress with social problems may result in significant morbidity and mortality. It is the purpose of this article to increase physician awareness concerning the possibility that these events may be a form of child abuse. It is hoped that by recognizing the risk of child abuse in these cases the physician can make the appropriate referrals in order to avoid serious injury to the child.